Conveyor belt



July 4, 1967 J. N. ELGAWAY 3,329,256

CONVEYOR BELT Filed June 18, 1965 a 4... r f

AVAVAWIM 'Mmmm FIG. 5

INVENTOR. JOSEPH /1/. EGM//IV United States Patent Oce 3,329,256 Patented July 4, 1967 3,329,256 CONVEYOR BELT Joseph N. Elgaway, Harveys Lake, Pa., assignor to Belson Corporation, New York, N.Y. Filed June 18, 1965, Ser. No. 464,981 Claims. (Cl. HPS-194) The present invention relates to fasteners and more particularly to an improved fastener for attaching a fiat covering to a wire mesh supporting structure to form a resulting article such as a conveyor belt.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a fastening clip which may be easily and quickly applied to attach a flat covering to the wire mesh structure.

Another object is to provide a fastening clip which will securely anchor the covering to the wire mesh structure without setting up any stress between the parts during movement along straight or curved surfaces.

Still another object is to provide an improved fastening clip which is of simple construction, economical to manufacture and one which is reliable in performing its intended function.

These and other objects will become more apparent from the following description and drawings in which like reference characters denote like parts throughout the several views. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration only and not a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a conveyor belt incorporating the novel features of the present invention and showing the covering connected to the underlying wire mesh structure;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2--2 of FIGURE 1 to show the cylindrical form of the interlocking wire mesh elements;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the conveyor belt and showing the interlocking engagement of the cylindrical wire mesh elements, the covering and attaching clip in more detail;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 3 to show the manner in which the fastening clip attaches the covering to the underlying wire mesh structure;

FIGURE 5 is a side view of one of the fastening clips in its open position; and

FIGURE 6 is a View similar to FIGURE 5 showing the spread legs of the clip moved to a closed locking position.

Referring now to the drawings, the fastening clip 10 of the present invention is shown applied to a conveyor belt 11 for locking a covering 12 to a wire mesh supporting structure 13. Conveyor belt 11 as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 is mounted on sprockets 14 and 15 with as least one of the sprockets 14 being driven `by a drive shaft 16.

The conveyor belt 11 may have other structures than the one illustrated. For example, the wire mesh supporting structure 13 may slide directly over a bed plate, or the edge portions of the wire mesh supporting structure may overlie and slide on rollers or tracks at the sides of the conveyor. In the illustrated embodiment, however, the conveyor belt 11 comprises spaced rods 20 extending transversely of the direction of movement of the belt. Rollers 21 are mounted on the ends of the rods 20 to roll in suitable tracks. As shown, the rods are connected to each other by pairs of links 22, 23 and 24, 25 which hold the rods in spaced relationship While permitting articulation for movement around sprockets 14 or 15 or over other curved surfaces. The links 22 and 23 of one pair are mounted on adjacent rods 20 closely adjacent a pair of rollers 21, while links 24 and 25 of the other pair are mounted on adjacent rods but overlie the sides of the links 22 and 23 and connect the next adjacent pair of rods and rollers.

The wire mesh supporting structure 13|` comprises a plurality of interlocking wire elements 28 each wound in the form of a cylindrical helix as shown in FIGURES l and 3. A plurality of the helically wound wire spirals 28 are arranged in parallel relationship with coils 29 of each element projecting between corresponding coils 29-A and 29-B of adjacent elements as shown most clearly in FIGURE 3. The adjacent helically wound wire elements 28 are interlocked by connecting wires 30 extending through the space between yoverlapping coils 29 of adjacent elements. Preferably, the connecting wires 30 have an undulating form to provide a series of notched seats 31 which the individual coils 29 of adjacent helically wound wire elements 28 engage to lock the parts: to each other to form an interlocking mat of wire mesh coils. In the particular arrangement illustrated in the drawing, a rod 2t) extends axially through every fourth spirally wound wire element 28 so that three of the helically wound wire elements are located between each adjacent pair of spaced rods. It will be understood, however, that other arrangements of the elements and rods may be provided. Such an interlocking wire mesh supporting structure 13 provides llexbility in a conveyor belt to adapt it to easily move around driving sprockets and other curved surfaces.

The covering 12 is mounted on one side of the wire mesh supporting structure l13 toprovide a flat surface for the conveyor. The covering 12 may be made of any suitable flexible material such as a4 cloth fabric, fabric impregnated with synthetic or natural rubber, 0r any other suitable material which will provide 4a exible flat surface on the top of the conveyor and which may be punctured by a sharp edged prong.

In accordance with the present invention the covering 12 is attached to the wire mesh supporting structure 13 by the fastening clips 10` as will be observed by reference to FIGURES 1 and 3. One of the clips 10 is provided midway between each pair of adjacent rods 20 of the conveyor 11 as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. Each of the clips 10 is made of a measured length of strip stock, such as steel, having ya rectangular cross section. One end portion of the strip forming a clip 10 is folded back on itself to form a loop constituting one leg 32.

The folded over leg portion 32 of the clip is of a dimension to closely t the interior of the coils 29 of the helically wound wire element 28 and is inserted in one end thereof as shown most clearly in FIGURE 4. The folded leg portion 32 has suflicient resilency to frictionally engage the interior of the coils 29. The opposite end portion of the strip is also folded back on itself about a wider radius to overlie the leg 32 and provide a second leg 33 spaced from the lirst leg a. distance equal to the thickness of the coils 29 and covering 12. The leg 33 extends slightly beyond the leg 32 and has its end 34 bent at an acute angle to overlie the end of said leg. The terminal of the bent end 34 is formed with a chisel shaped cutting edge 35 as shown in FIGURE 4 to cut its way through the covering 12 and the folded end projects into the space between adjacent coils 29 of the helically wound wire element 28 into which its leg' 32 has been inserted. The terminal cutting edge 35 of leg 33 then engages the end of the opposite leg 32 to lock the clip to the coiled wire 28 and attach the covering 12 to the wire mesh supporting structure 13.

Initially the fastening clip 10 is formed with the leg 33 projecting upwardly at an angle to the leg 32 so that the latter may be inserted into the end of the coiled wire element 28 after which the inclined leg 33 is deformed to the position illustrated in FIGURE 6 to penetrate the covering and lock the clip in position. One form of the invention having now been described in detail the manner of assembling the parts to form a conveyor belt is next explained.

A conveyor belt 11 is made by assembling the wire elements 28 and 30 to form a wire mesh supporting structure 13 as shown in FIGURE 3. The covering 12 is then laid on one side of the wire mesh supporting structure 13 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE l. Clips 10, as shown in FIGURE 5, are assembled on the wire mesh supporting structure by inserting one leg 32 of the clip in the end of every fourth helically coiled wire element 2S axially thereof, so that the opposite leg 33 overlies the covering 12 and projects upwardly at an angle thereto. Legs 33 of the clips 10 are then folded inwardly from the position shown in FIGURE 5 to that shown in FIG- URE 6' by means of suitable pliers to cause the chisel shaped ends 35 to cut through the covering 12 and move to a position -overlying the end of the leg 32 as shown in FIGURE 4. The end 34 as shown in FIGURE 4 is then positioned between adjacent coils 29, of the wire element 28 and the plurality of clips 10 lock the covering 12 to the wire Imesh supporting structure 13 to provide a conveyor 11.

It will now be observed that the present invention provides a fastening clip which may be easily and quickly applied to attach a covering to a wire mesh supporting structure to form an assembly such as a conveyor belt. It also will be observed that the fastening clip of the present invention securely anchors the covering to the wire mesh supporting structure without setting up any stress between the parts. It will still further be observed that the present invention provides a fastening clip of extremely simple construction which may be economically manufactured and one which is reliable in performing its intended function.

While a single embodiment of the present invention is herein illustrated and described it will be understood that changes may be Vmade in the construction and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limitation in this respect the invention is defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A conveyor belt comprising a chain of articulated links at each side, a mat of wire mesh extending between and supported by said chains, said mat of wire mesh including a plurality of wire elements wound in cylindrical helixes arranged in parallel relationship with overlapping edges interlocked with each other, a covering on one side of the Wire-mesh mat to provide a flat surface, fastening clips for attaching the covering to the mat of wire mesh arranged at spaced locations along the conveyor, each of said clips being in the form of a onepiece strip folded to provide a loop projecting into the end of a helically wound cylindrical wire element, a second loop overlying the .covering and Wire-mesh mat and an angular end projecting through the covering and between the loops of the underlying wire helix to lock the covering to the wire-mesh mat.

2. A conveyor belt comprising spaced rods extending transversely of the direction of movement of the conveyor, rollers mounted on the ends of the rods, links connecting the adjacent rods at each side of the conveyor to hold the rods spaced from each other and provide chains at the sides of the conveyor, a mat of wire mesh in the form,y of cylindrical wire helixes arranged in parallel relationship and interlocked with each other, certain of said helically wound wire elements surrounding the spaced rods and the others of vsaid helical wound wires being located between the rods, a covering on one side of the mat of wire mesh Ito provide a fiat surface, and fastening clips of strip stock connecting the covering to the mat of wire mesh, each of said fastening clips having a looped end extending into the end of one of the helically wound wires between spaced rods and a loop at the opposite end overlying the edge of the wire-mesh mat and covering with a terminal hook at the end of the loop projecting through the covering and wire-mesh mat to lock the covering to the mat.

3. A conveyor belt in accordance with claim 2 in which each fastening clip comprises a length of the strip stock folded back on itself in parallel relation to form said one loop of a size to closely t the interior of a cylindrically wound wire element, the remainder of strip being folded back o-n itself parallel to the first folded portion to form a second loop spaced from said first mentioned loop a distance equal to the thickness of the wire mat and covering, and the end portion of the second mentioned loop being folded at an acute angle thereto with its terminal end cut at an angle to provide a chisel edge to cut through the covering when the folded portions are moved toward each other.

4. A conveyor belt in accordance with claim 3 in which the end portion of the second mentioned loop folded at an acute angle thereto is so spaced as to engage the rst folded over end of the loop to lock the clip in position on the cylindrically wound wire element.

5. A fastening clip comprising a length of strip stock folded back on itself in parallel relationship to form a loop, the remainder of the strip being folded back on itself parallel to the first folded loop to form a second loop spaced from the rst mentioned loop, the end portion of the second mentioned loop being folded at an acute angle thereto with its terminal end `cut at an angle to provide a chisel edge.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 386,305 7/1888 Emerson et al. 198-193 X 1,749,932 3/1930 Woodman 198--193 X 2,784,727 3/ 1957 Fleischer 2li-265 X EVON C. BLUNK, Primary Examiner.

A. C. HODGSON, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A CONVEYOR BELT COMPRISING A CHAIN OF ARTICULATED LINKS AT EACH SIDE, A MAT OF WIRE MESH EXTENDING BETWEEN AND SUPPORTED BY SAID CHAINS, SAID MAT OF WIRE MESH INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF WIRE ELEMENTS WOUND IN CYLINDRICAL HELIXES ARRANGED IN PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP WITH OVERLAPPING EDGES INTERLOCKED WITH EACH OTHER, A COVERING ON ONE SIDE OF THE WIRE-MESH MAT TO PROVIDE A FLAT SURFACE, FASTENING CLIPS FOR ATTACHING THE COVERING TO THE MAT OF WIRE MESH ARRANGED AT SPACED LOCATIONS ALONG THE CONVEYOR, EACH OF SAID CLIPS BEING IN THE FORM OF A ONEPIECE STRIP FOLDED TO PROVIDE A LOOP PROJECTING INTO THE END OF A HELICALLY WOUND CYLINDRICAL WIRE ELEMENT, A SECOND LOOP OVERLYING THE COVERING AND WIRE-MESH MAT AND AN ANGULAR AND PROJECTING THROUGH THE COVERING AND BETWEEN THE LOOPS OF THE UNDERLYING WIRE HELIX TO LOCK THE COVERING TO THE WIRE-MESH MAT. 